Issue - meetings

This report seeks the approval of Cabinet to the Education Sufficiency Update 2020.

Portfolio Holder – Councillor Colin Hayfield

In introducing this report Councillor Colin Hayfield explained that the picture regarding primary school places is mixed across the County but most secondary schools are under pressure for places. A seminar had been provided for members and it was expected that further, more local seminars will be arranged.

Councillor Keith Kondakor thanked Zoe Holynska for her earlier contribution. He noted that pressures for school places come at the beginning of the school years and in-year. Cabinet was informed that of the 14 classes being constructed as part of the new Lower Farm Academy only 4 will be opened in September 2021. The rest of the classes will be complete, but the school has a choice as to when it will open these. Council was requested to fund the places in the new classrooms to ease the pressure for local children. Councillor Kondakor observed that it had been known that the housing would be built and asked why school places had not been planned accordingly.

Councillor Dave Parsons observed that Local Plans operate on a 15 year cycle but primary schools plan on a five year cycle and secondary schools on a seven year cycle. Developers can operate outside of the Local Plan but all plans (education and development) need to be aligned.

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse regretted that the County Council was no longer the Local Education Authority. He questioned the formula used to establish demand for school places and suggested that it should be reviewed.

Councillor Izzi Seccombe agreed that parental choice has complicated the issue of school place provision. She suggested that if the new classrooms at Lower Farm Academy were made available, they could be taken by children from across the town. She suggested that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee may wish to consider ways in which school place planning could be improved.

Councillor Jeff Clarke observed that by transporting children across towns to schools adds to congestion. 

Resolved

That Cabinet endorses the Annual Education sufficiency Update 2020 and the proposed schemes to ensure sufficiency of school places in Warwickshire.